The Introduction

The principle purpose of the introduction is to present your position (this is also known as
the "thesis" or "argument") on the issue at hand but effective introductory paragraphs are so
much more than that. Before you even get to this thesis statement, for example, the essay
should begin with a "hook" that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read on.
Examples of effective hooks include relevant quotations ("no man is an island") or surprising
statistics ("three out of four doctors report that…").
Only then, with the reader’s attention "hooked," should you move on to the thesis. The thesis
should be a clear, one-sentence explanation of your position that leaves no doubt in the
reader’s mind about which side you are on from the beginning of your essay.
Following the thesis, you should provide a mini-outline which previews the examples you
will use to support your thesis in the rest of the essay. Not only does this tell the reader what
to expect in the paragraphs to come but it also gives them a clearer understanding of what the
essay is about.
Finally, designing the last sentence in this way has the added benefit of seamlessly moving
the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper. In this way we can see that the
basic introduction does not need to be much more than three or four sentences in length. If
yours is much longer you might want to consider editing it down a bit!
Here, by way of example, is an introductory paragraph to an essay in response to the
following question:
"Do we learn more from finding out that we have made mistakes or from our successful
actions?"
"No man is an island" and, as such, he is constantly shaped and influenced by his
experiences. People learn by doing and, accordingly, learn considerably more from their
mistakes than their success. For proof of this, consider examples from both science and
everyday experience.
The Body Paragraphs
The middle paragraphs of the essay are collectively known as the body paragraphs and, as
alluded to above, the main purpose of a body paragraph is to spell out in detail the examples
that support your thesis.
For the first body paragraph you should use your strongest argument or most significant
example unless some other more obvious beginning point (as in the case of chronological
explanations) is required. The first sentence of this paragraph should be the topic sentence of
the paragraph that directly relates to the examples listed in the mini-outline of introductory
paragraph.
A one sentence body paragraph that simply cites the example of "George Washington" or
"LeBron James" is not enough, however. No, following this an effective essay will follow up
on this topic sentence by explaining to the reader, in detail, who or what an example is and,
more importantly, why that example is relevant.
Even the most famous examples need context. For example, George Washington’s life was
extremely complex – by using him as an example, do you intend to refer to his honesty,
bravery, or maybe even his wooden teeth? The reader needs to know this and it is your job as
the writer to paint the appropriate picture for them. To do this, it is a good idea to provide the
reader with five or six relevant facts about the life (in general) or event (in particular) you
believe most clearly illustrates your point.
Having done that, you then need to explain exactly why this example proves your thesis. The
importance of this step cannot be understated (although it clearly can be underlined); this is,
after all, the whole reason you are providing the example in the first place. Seal the deal by
directly stating why this example is relevant.
Transitional phrases are useful for showing the reader where one section ends and another
begins. It may be helpful to see them as the written equivalent of the kinds of spoken cues
used in formal speeches that signal the end of one set of ideas and the beginning of another.
In essence, they lead the reader from one section of the paragraph of another.

The Conclusion
Although the conclusion paragraph comes at the end of your essay it should not be seen as an
afterthought. As the final paragraph is represents your last chance to make your case and, as
such, should follow an extremely rigid format.
One way to think of the conclusion is, paradoxically, as a second introduction because it
does in fact contain many of the same features. While it does not need to be too long – four
well-crafted sentence should be enough – it can make or break and essay.
Effective conclusions open with a concluding transition ("in conclusion," "in the end," etc.)
and an allusion to the "hook" used in the introductory paragraph. After that you should
immediately provide a restatement of your thesis statement.
This should be the fourth or fifth time you have repeated your thesis so while you should use
a variety of word choice in the body paragraphs it is a acceptable idea to use some (but not
all) of the original language you used in the introduction. This echoing effect not only
reinforces your argument but also ties it nicely to the second key element of the conclusion:
a brief (two or three words is enough) review of the three main points from the body of the
paper.
Having done all of that, the final element – and final sentence in your essay – should be a
"global statement" or "call to action" that gives the reader signals that the discussion has
come to an end.

Taken together, then, the overall structure of a five paragraph essay should look something
like this:
Introduction Paragraph
  An attention-grabbing "hook"
 A thesis statement
 A preview of the three subtopics you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

First Body Paragraph

 Topic sentence which states the first subtopic and opens with a transition
 Supporting details or examples
 An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Second Body Paragraph

 Topic sentence which states the second subtopic and opens with a transition
 Supporting details or examples
 An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Third Body Paragraph

 Topic sentence which states the third subtopic and opens with a transition
 Supporting details or examples
 An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Concluding Paragraph

 Concluding Transition, Reverse "hook," and restatement of thesis.

 Rephrasing main topic and subtopics.
 Global statement or call to action.

Planning Pays
Although it may seem like a waste of time – especially during exams where time is tight – it
is almost always better to brainstorm a bit before beginning your essay. This should enable
you to find the best supporting ideas – rather than simply the first ones that come to mind –
and position them in your essay accordingly.
Your best supporting idea – the one that most strongly makes your case and, simultaneously,
about which you have the most knowledge – should go first. Even the best-written essays
can fail because of ineffectively placed arguments.
Aim for Variety
Sentences and vocabulary of varying complexity are one of the hallmarks of effective
writing. When you are writing, try to avoid using the same words and phrases over and over
again. You don’t have to be a walking thesaurus but a little variance can make the same idea
sparkle.
If you are asked about "money," you could try "wealth" or "riches." At the same time, avoid
beginning sentences the dull pattern of "subject + verb + direct object." Although examples
of this are harder to give, consider our writing throughout this article as one big example of
sentence structure variety.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
In the end, though, remember that good writing does not happen by accident. Although we
have endeavored to explain everything that goes into effective essay writing in as clear and
concise a way as possible, it is much easier in theory than it is in practice.
As a result, we recommend that you practice writing sample essays on various topics. Even if
they are not masterpieces at first, a bit of regular practice will soon change that – and make
you better prepared when it comes to the real thing.